Jigs

[BassThumb]

I bet you have gotten strikes on a jig, but you haven't learned to detect them.

Lotsa articles up here on jig fishing. Biggest tips would be to watch your line, weigh and time your jig's fall, anything weird, set the hook hard.

I'm thinking this is the case for a lot of people. Jig bites are not always easy to detect. Sometimes the bite is an obvious tap and tug, but just as often there is almost no feeling at all, just a kind of sponginess like you hooked a feather pillow suspended in the water column. Anytime you feel anything out of the ordinary, set the hook as fast as you can, so keep your rod in good hooksetting position at all times and be ready for bites on the initial fall where the bait doesn't seem to land on the bottom as fast as you know it should. Don't get caught high-sticking with a big bow in your line or the fish will spit your jig in a split second without you knowing it was ever interested. How many times have you had Texas rigs come back all scrunched up w/o feeling anything? Jigs don't show evidence of missed strikes like that.

Remember: There's no shame in setting the hook and missing. People on shore might chuckle when you send jigs flying thru the air with false hooksets that look ridiculous and showy to them, but you both might be surprised what's on the end of your line. Trust me, I've been there.

[crank]

Fish jigs exclusively for awhile.

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1189609782

+1. I did this starting in early Dec. of last year when the fall crank bite slowed down. I didn't catch another fish until late January. I had to force myself to leave it in place for a full 30 count before inching--and I mean inching--it forward. Eventually got a feel for what "different" was, set the hook on it. Success! I've caught more 4-5 lbers in the last 2 months than ever. But the previous 2 were long, cold, and tedious. Good luck!

8-)